Duplicating apparatus



sept, 12, 1939. A. MARCH@ 2,172,876

DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .N% N u Sept.12, 1939. A. MARCHEV DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 193'? Sept12,1939- A. MARcHEv 2,172y876 DUPLICATING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 19374 .Sheets-Sheet 3 Sep@ my @B99 A. MARGH@ DUPLICATING APPARATUS' isnewsmsheet 4 Filed June 26, 1937 Patented Sept. 12, 1939 vuNlrriezlJ-g'lSTATES y aimais nUPLrcA'rmc ArrAaA'rUs Alfred Marehev, La Grange, lll.,assignor to Ditto Incorporated, `Chicago, IIL, a corporation of WestVirginia vApplieettien' June 26,1931, semina. 150,505 s claim. (ci.1v1-132) The invention relates to duplicating apparatus and has for itsprimary object the provision of duplicating apparatus which will operateat a relatively high speed.

5 l One form of the invention is embodied in a duplicating machine whichcomprises a rotatable duplicating .drum carrying a master from whichcopies are to be made, the copy sheets being pressed against the mastersheet by a plurality of i platen rollers. Each platen roller preferablyapplies all portions of the copy sheet to the master sheet. The forcewith which the platen rollers press the copy sheets against the mastermay be adjusted or varied on both rolls simultaneously l or the forcewith which each roll passes the copy sheets against the master sheet maybe adjuste individually.

An advantage attending the use of a plurality of platen rollers is that`the duplicating machine may be operated at a high rate of speed as eachof the platen rollers forces the copy sheets against the master sheetand therefore the copy sheets are in contact with the master sheet twiceas long as they would be if a single'platen roller were used and themachine operated at the same speed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent asthe followingdetailed description progresses, referance being had to the accompanyingdrawings, whereln- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section takenthrough a duplicating machine which embodies the invention. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

35 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line.

`3--3ofFlg.1. y.

Fig. 4 is a section taken lon line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a'plansection taken. on line 5--5 of Fig. 1'.`v 40 Fig. 6 is a section takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section taken on line T-I of Fig. '6.Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a section taken'online 9 9 of Fig. 6..

Referring tothe drawingsy wherein a preferred form of the invention isillustrated, the reference character I0 designates generally the frameof the improved vduplicating machine. Rotatably m mounted in the frameI0 isla printing or duplicating drum I I which'is constrained to" rotatewith a gear I2. A pinion I3, which meshes'with the gear'l2, is'fxed to aAshafti4 rotatably journalled in the frame I0. The shaft I4 has a cranklever 55 'I5 pinned thereto. Obviously, when the crank lever I5 isrotated, the duplicating drum II will also rotate. t

The machine is* provided with a table I6 adapted to receive a stack of4copy sheets which may be advanced one by one to a pair `oi lcom- 5bined feeding and moistening rollers I'I and I8. The roller I'I iscontacted by astrip of felt 20 which projects from -a container 2ladapted to hold asupply of solvent. When the copy sheets (not shown)pass between the rollers I'I and I8, 10 the upper surfaces of the copysheets are meistened with the solvent by the roller I1 which obtains thesolvent from the felt 2l.

vThe drum II is provided with a plurality of gripper units 25 adapted toclamp a master sheet 15 26 upon the drum.

Constrained to rotate with the drum II is a large gear 28 'which mesheswith an idler pinion 29. The idler pinion 29 meshes with a. pinion 30with which the roller I'l is constrained to rotate. 20 The roller I8 isdriven by reason of its frictional engagement with the roller I1.

The'master sheets have the data to be duplicatedwritten or typewrlttenthereon in reverse so that when a. portion of the carbon or ink'is 25ydissolved and transferred to the moistened surface of the copy sheet, itwill appear in correct, readable form. 'Ihe solvent on the copy sheetsis applied, of course, to the, carbon or ink on the master sheet anddissolves it gradually. 30

It will be noted that the roller I 8 is mounted on a shaft which hasVits ends supported by levers 3G pivoted upon Vpins 31 projecting fromthe frame. Springs 39 engage toothed ends of the levers 35 andyieldingly urge the roller I8 toward 35 l the roller I'I. i

It vmay be mentionedthat the container 2| is supplied with solvent froma larger container 40 by means whichdo not form apart of this invention.t A pair of platen rollers 4I and 42 cooperate with thefdrum 2I Iv topress the copy sheetsl against the master sheet 26. The rollers 4I and42 are preferably formed from rubber andare preferably mounted uponshafts 43 and 44, respectively.. .45 e

The shafts 43 and 4 4 argmountedin means comprising a pair of levers 45which are pivoted upon pins 46 mounted in the frame I0, The levers 45arecpivoted intermediate. theixends and each Y lever comprises adownwardly `extending arm 45a. 50 through which a set. screw 41 isscrew-threaded.A n Nuts 48 upon each set screw 41 are adapted to lockthe set screw in adjusted positions relative to the arm 45a. The head ofleach set screw f,41.rides upon an eccentric Slilxed to a shaft5,I\.whlch is `55 rotatably journalled in the frame I0. A knob 53, shownin' dotted lines in Fig. 1, is mounted upon one end of the shaft andmaybe rotated by the operator to rotate the shaft 5| and the eccentrics50, The eccentrics 50 may be rotated to displace the levers 45a in aclockwise direction (Fig. 1) to-increase the force with which the platenrollers `y4| and 42 press /copysheets against l' vthe master sheet l26.Also, if it is so desired, the

eccentrics 50 may be rotated to diminish the force with which the platenrollers 4| and 42 will press copy sheets against the master sheet 26.The ends of the shaft 43 are mounted in ball bearings 55 which simplyrest in semi-circular notches 56 formed in the upper ends of the ylevers45. Set screws 51 screw-threaded through lugs 58 and 59 formed integralwith the -levers 45 support Athe ball bearings 55 and may be manipulatedto raise or lower the ball bearings so as to vary the force with whichthe roller 4| will press copy sheets against the master sheet l26.

The shaft 44 has its ends mounted in ball bearings 60 which, in turn,are mounted in collars 6|, the collars 6| being seated in recesses 63formed in cap members l and 66. 'I'he cap member 65 has a slot 68extending diametrically of it in its outer end surface. Riding in theslot 68 is a tongue or lug 69 formed on a pin 10 which is provided witha knurled knob 1| which may be rotated by the operator to rotate the pin10. A collar 13 formed integral with the pin 10, is adapted to abutagainst the outer slotted end surface of the cap 65. A. compressionspring 14 disposed around the pin 10 is interposed between the collar 13and a washer 15 which bears against an inner surface,` of the' frame I0.(Fig. 6.) Obviously, the spring 14 yieldingly urges the pin 10 to theright (Fig. 6) to hold the collar -13 against the outer end surface ofthe cap member Extending through a bore 80 formed in the knob 1| is apin 82 provided with an integral col#- lar 83 which normally abutsagainst a shoulder 84 formed in the bore 80. The outer end of the Ibore80 is closed by a bushing 86 which has a hole through it to accommodatethe pin 82. A compression spring 81 disposed around the pin 82 andinterposed between the bushing 86 and thecollar 83 yieldingly urges the.pin 82 to the right (Fig. 6) so that'the right hand end (Fig. 6) of thepin 82 will normally engage one of a plurality of holes 30 formed in aplate 9| which is secured to the frame I0 by screws 82 (Fig. 7). It willbe noted that the holes 90 areof such size and are spaced in such mannerthat they open into each other so that while they are notreally'separate holes, they serve in the same manner as if they wereseparate hles. When the pin 82 engages one of the holes 90, it holdsthe` knob 1| against rotation. The pin 82 is provided with a knurledhead 34 whereby the pin may be displaced longitudinally against theaction of the spring 81 to disengage the pin from one of the holes 80.

It will be noted that the pin 10 extends through an arcuate slot 81provided in the plate 8| and it also extends through a correspondingarcuaterecess 63 is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation ofthe cap member 65.

The cap member 66 is identical in construction with the cap member 65except for the fact that it does not have a slot 68. The cap members 65and 66 ride in semi-circular notches L45h provided in the-upper ends ofthe levers 45. A bar |00 extends between and is secured to the capmembers 65 and 66, the construction being such that whenthe cap member65 is rotated in its arcuate notch 45h, of the associated lever 45, thecap member 66 will rotate in unison through the same angular distance.It will be readily understood that if the pin 82 is withdrawn fromengagement with one of the holes and the knob 1| is rotated, the capmember 65 will also rotate and will cause the roller 42 to move towardsor away from the drum the direction in which the roller 42 is ldisplacedbeing dependent upon the direction in which the knob 1| is rotated. Suchadjustment permits one to vary or adjust the force with which the platenroller 42 applies the copy sheets to the master sheet 26. Obviously, ifit is so desired, the platen roller 42 may be brought into a positionwherein it does not cooperate with the drum and all of the duplicatingwork may be done by the drum and the platen roller 4|. may be renderedfunctionally inoperative so that all the work can be done by the roller42.

When a duplicating machine of the kind described is in operation, but isprovided with only one platen roller, the speed at which the machine canbe operated is oftentimes limited by the necessity for running it slowenough so that each copy sheet will remain in contact with the mastersheet a sufficient length of time to obtain a good copy of the data onthe master sheet. Of course, the copy sheets are being advanced betweenthe drum and the single platen roller but unless they operate slowenough, poor copies will be the result. By using two platen rollers, thespeed of the machine can be increased materially and there isconsiderable saving of time.

Pivoted upon the pins 31 are a pair of levers |05 which havesemi-circular notches |06 which rotatably journal the ends of a shaft|01 which carries the felt roller |08. Both of the levers |05 areprovided with notched ends |09, one of the notches in each end beingengaged by a spring ||0 which yieldingly urges the roller |08 inalcounter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) around the pins 31 so that theroller |08 contacts the roller I8 and absorbs excess solvent thataccumulates on the roller 'I 8. The other end of each spring I0 is fixedto a pin (not shown) projecting from the frame I0. 'Ihe force with whichthe felt roller |08 bears against the roller I8 may be varied by hookingthe springs ||0 in other notches of the notched ends |09.

'I'he roller |'I is preferably formed from nonabsorbent material, theroller |8 preferably being formed of absorbent material.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention,itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in theappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my in-I vention as broadly as permissible, in view of theprior art.

I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine, the combination Likewise, the platen roller4'| of a frame, a duplicating drum rotatably mounted in the frame, meansfor driving s'aidv drum, means for mounting a master sheet on said drumso as torevolve therewith, a support adjacent to the drum along which acopy sheet may be moved to the drum, and a plurality of platen rollersin spaced relation to each other about the drum adapted to press' copysheets against said master sheet at a plurality of points across thesheets when-such copy sheets are fed from the support between the drumand oneof said platen rollers.

2. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a duplicatingdrum rotatably mounted in the frame, means for driving said drum, meansfor mounting a master sheet on said drum so as to revolve therewith, atable adjacent to y said drum along which a copy sheet may be moved tothe drum, two levers pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on saidframe at opposite ends of said drum, a platen roller journalled in saidlevers between said axis and the-drum in position to engage the drum, asecond platen roller journalled in said levers in spaced relation tosaid rst named platen roller circumferentially of the drum, means forswinging said levers in unisonv for moving said platen rollers towardand from said drum, and means for adjusting said platen rollers withrespect to said levers for bringing said rollers into substantially evenpressure relationship to said drum. ,f

3. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a duplicatingdrum rotatably mounted in the frame, means for driving said drum, meansfor mounting a master sheet on said drum so as to revolve therewith, atable adjacent to said drum along which a copy sheet may be moved to thedrum, two supporting members movably mounted in position at oppositeends of said drum, a platen roller rotatably mounted on said supportingmembers, ay second platen roller, means comprising eccentric bearingmembers for mounting' said 'second roller on said supporting members,means for causing said eccentric bearing members to rotate in unison,one of said eccentric bearing members being provided with a grooveacross its face, a pin rotatably mounted in position in engagement withsaid groove for rotating said eccentric bearing members, and means forlocking said pin against rotary movement.

4. In a duplicating'machine, the combination of a frame, a duplicatingdrum rotatably mounted inthe frame, means for driving said drum, meansfor mounting a master sheet on said drum so as to revolve therewith, atable adjacent to said drum along which a copy sheet may be moved to thedrum, two supporting members movably mounted in position at oppositeends of said drum, a platen roller rotatably mounted on o saidsupporting members, a second platen roller,

ing members to rotate in unison, one of said eccentric bearing membersbeing provided with a groove across its face, a pin rotatably mounted inposition in engagement with said groove for rotating said eccentricbearing members, a head mounted on said pin for rotating the pim-and adetent yieldingly mounted in said head in position to engage any of aplurality of openings in the frame for locking. said pin against rotarymovement from the desired adjusted position.

5. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a duplicatingdrum rotatably mounted in the frame, means for driving said drum, meansfor mounting a master sheet on said drum so as to revolve therewith, asupport adjacent to the drum along which a copy sheet may be moved tothe drum, two supporting membersA movably mounted in position atopposite ends of said drum, a platen roller rotatably mounted on saidsupporting members, a second platen roller, means comprising eccentricbearing members for mounting said second roller on said supportingmembers, means connecting said bearing members together whereby a rotaryadjustment of one causes a corresponding adjustment ofl the other, a pinrotatably and slidably mounted in the frame opposite one of said bearingmembers so as to havetransversely adjustable engagement with saidbearing member for rotating it and so as to be movable longitudinallyout of engagementwith the bearing member, and means for holding said pinreleasably against rotary movement for maintaining said second platenroller in its adjustedposition.

6. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a duplicatingdrum rotatably mounted in the frame, means for driving said drum, meansfor mounting a master sheet on said drum so as to revolve therewith, asupport adjacent to the drum along which a copy sheet may be moved tothe drum, two supporting members movably mounted in positionv atopposite ends of said drum, a platen roller rotatably mounted on saidsupporting members, -eccentric bearing members rotatably mounted innotches in said supporting members, a second platen roller rotatablymounted in said eccentric bearing mem- -bers so as to be movable towardand from said drum, a crossbar connecting said eccentric bearing memberstogether whereby a rotary adjustment of one causes a correspondingadjustment of the other, a pin rotatably and slidably mounted in theframe opposite one of said eccentric bearing members so as to havetransversely adjustable engagement with said bearing member for rotatingit and so as to b e movable longitudinally out of engagement with thebearing ALFRED MARCHEV.

